, 1887-01-14
SNOW BATTLE DURING The WA


Friendly Contest between Opposing trn-
federatc Forces.
Just after the battle of fredericksburg
the brigade commanded bv the gallant
general, Clement \. Evans-now u de-
vout disciple OF the prince of pcacc-was
in winter quarters OH the Rappahannock
river near Port Royal. \ SION storm
came and snow fell to the depth of IA foot.
Gen. Hoke, of North Carolina. who was
quartered near by with his brigade of
5000 men, marched over and sent word
to Gen. Evans that he must surrender or
stand the consequence. OF course there
was no surrender. The North CAROLYN
ians. who were making the demand for
surrender. attacked the Georgians on the
flank, where the Thirty-first and Thirty
eighth regiments CHANGED to he. The as
sault was 30 unexpected and the attack
ing forces were so well massed that they
swept everything before them, going
through the camps and having things
their own way. When the troops OF
Gen. Hoke had pretty well routed Gen.
Evans they struck the Thirteenth Geor
gia, and had such u lively tussle that the
rest Of the Gcorgiar- We're encouraged,
reformed, charged the North Carolinians
and accomplished "a complete rout, driv-
ing them pcll nell through the now to
their winter quarters, three miles away.
The Gcorgians withdrew, but later in the
day planned an attack on Gen. Hoke's
camps, intending to bring away anything
portable that could be captured. The
Georgians were repulsed, however, with
out difficulty, as IA good many of the old
soldiers refused to 90 on the raid, and
Gen. IIoke's forces outnumbered the
forces OF Gen. Evans.
In the retreat the distinguished Bull
Averitt, Of the Thirty first Georgia, fell
into a gully fifteen feet deep. and couldn't
get out He tried to surrender. but the
North Carolinians informed him that
they were not taking any prisoners that
day.
you came after an oven!' a C~arolinian
would exclaim; here is a biscuit 10 put
in iti' and the unfortunate Bull would
catch it i'll the eve or behind he ear.
When Bull got back to camp he was
without his hat. The two battles taken
together made the days fighting a draw,
and on that each side rested.
Between Q. 900 and 1000 men were en-
gagged III the o balling.
In January, 1864. while the Confederate
troops Were in winter quarters at Dalton
there came u big snow storm, and 20, 900
soldiers went into u regularly organized
snow balling. On one side OF a branch
was the parade ground of the Georgia and
South Carolina troops, and back of that
the quarters. On the opposite side Of
the branch was the parade ground of the
Tennesseeans, and back of their parade
ground were their quarters. The ground
was frozen to a depth of five feet, the
snow was "A foot deep and no indications
OF melting.
A day was appointed for the snow
battle. The Tennessecans marched Out
and formed a line of battle, their drums
beating, bugles blowing, colors flying and
officers mounted. Every soldier had a
kiapsack full of snow balls. The Georgians
formed aud prepared 10 make the attack
by crossing the branch. There were TO-
600 men on each side. and the scene was
very imposing.
As soon as the Georgians crossed the
branch they met Il terrific fusillade from
the Tennesseeans, who were at home III
the snow. The commander of the Ten
ncsseeans. II handsome fellow named
Gordon, who was from Franklin, Tenn,
was captured, but II bold lash was made
by the Tennesseeans and lac wa rescued.
The Georgians and South Carolinians
being unused to the snow We're ut II
great disadvantage, and were forced
back across the branch. As the Tennes.
seeans crossed the branch they wet their
sno balls. and the next Voiley fired at
the Georgia and Carolina boys was ter